Illuminator for cover plates



May 0, 1947;

w. c. LNToN l 2,420,000

ILLUMINATOR Foa covER PLATES Filed oct. 1o, 1944 SII Patented May 6,1947 2,420,000 ILLUMINA'roR Fon COVER PLATES William C. Linton,Washington, D. C., assignor to Fuse Indicator Corporation, Rockville,Md., a corporation of Delaware Y Application October 10, 1944, SerialNo. 558,055

(Cl. 24o-2) 1 Claim.

1 The present invention relates to cover plates for electrical outletboxes and more particularly to an illuminator for such plates wherebythe lat- 'ter may be more easily located in dark or secluded places,having among its objects to provide an illuminator which may be easilyand readily applied to any conventional cover plate and one which may beconnected to the cover plate without the use of separable fasteningelements.

Y Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover plateand illuminator therefor which will be highly attractive and decorativewhen installed and comparatively inexpensive in the cost of manufacture,thereby rendering the same commercially desirable.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and itsv mode of operation may be readilyunderstood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accompanyingdrawings and in the detailed following description based thereupon, setout an embodiment of the same.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a cover plate having my improvedilluminator attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the cover plate showing theilluminator in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the cover plate.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the cover plate showing theilluminator in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 in thedirection of the arrow points.

Fig. 6 is a detail front elevation of the cover plate with theilluminator removed.

Fig. 7 is another detail front elevation of the cover plate with thelamp supported therein but the lens or housing for the lamp beingremoved.

Fig. 8 is a slightly enlarged transverse section taken on the line 8 8of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrow points.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the lamp supporting plate.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section of the lamp supporting plate taken onthe line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9 in the direction of the arrow points.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section through the lamp plate taken on theline II-I I of Fig. 9 in the direction of the arrow points, and

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of the lens or lamp housing.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings whereinlike and corresponding parts are designated by similar referencecharacters throughout the several Viewaliave;` illustrated aconventional cover plate for receiving a single throw switch of thetoggle type which is preferably molded from translucent materials andmay be of any color or design as would keep the same in harmony with thedecorations upon the wall or other support to which the cover plateis'applied. This cover plate is preferably rectangular in conguration,as shown, having a central wall I in which is formed a rectangularopening 2 and the latter receives the knob or lever of the toggle switchcontained within the cutout box. Formed with the rear face'of the bodyportion of the plate are a pair of projections 3 through which extendopenings 4 for the reception of the attaching screws (not shown),whereby the plate may be connected in the usual manner to the cutoutswitch or box therefor. I employ a cover plate of the above type and cutor have formed therein adjacent its upper end, a substantiallycross-shaped opening 5 through which extends and is supported therein anilluminator embodying the present invention,

This illuminator comprises a back or lamp supporting plate 6 preferablymolded from insulated material and of a rectangular configuration, asshown, whereby it may be placed closely adjacent the rear wall of thecover plate I inthe manner as better illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawings. Formed with and projecting from one face of this plate B is apair of parallel walls 'I each having a knob or projection 8 formedtherewith and arranged adjacent their outer ends, and each projectionhaving an outer inclined surfaceas shown. Also formed with one face ofthis plate and projecting at right angles therefrom is acupshaped member9 preferably of a cylindrical configuration and having its outer endopen. A partition I8 is formed with the cup or receptacle 9, dividingthe same into two separate compartments II and I2. Also formed with andextending through the plate 6 are the openings I3 and I4, the latteropening I4 registering with the cornpartment I2 formed within thereceptacle 9.

The lamp housing or lens is also preferably molded from translucentmaterials and may be in various colors or a color that will match orharmonize with the cover plate l. This lens l5 is preferably ofrectangular conguration as shown, with its lower or bottom face open,which communicates with the compartment IB formed therein. The innerface of each side wall Il of the lens is provided with a verticallyextending recess i8 into which may extend the walls 1 o1 the plate 6 andthese side walls Il of the lens walls 1 project through the enlargedportions of l0 tion. the opening 5 formed within the cover plate;'

and when the lens I5 is connected to the walls or projections 1 of theplate best illustrated in Fig. 8 of lamp plate and lens willbe"securelLlanked\'in,` place upon the cover plate.

or walls 'I fitting within the-.e

6 in the manner as' B rheqrojections gedportions of the opening 5, thelamp plate 6' will be prevented from lateral-movement and as the outerends -of thesemojections 1 fit within recesses I8 formed,withinftheinner..wallsof theflens I5, the latter fwillfbe preventedfrom sliding movement upon the .cover plate. f Y

The type lof lamppreferably used4 isa miniature neon lamp 2B havingaleakresistor 2l .connecteol in series therewith... .These .lamps are knownto consume `only.aninnitesimal amount of .current and haveA a relativelylong life, thereby .making the same .especially desirable for thepurpose of .illuminatingzcover plates.. A.By mold,- ing the `lens- I5and thecover plate Iv from translucent-,molding materials. andemployinga neon lamp of A.theN aforesaidE Icharacter,- a faint .glow oflight is diffused over the outer faceof the plate I, whereby, onecanreadily locate Vtheplatein darker secludedrplacesand yet at othertimes, theglowof .lightrenders the Ucover. plate very attractive,especiallywhere .the cover .plateand lens are in colors or a combinationof colors.-

Theleakresistorll is preferably .prepared from .a moldedv.corr1positio'n. whichV Ais `placed within thecup Eiland thepartition I0 arranged within the cuphaving Va recess in the outerv face thereof,.permitsv this molded composition to extend withinboth of the.compartments II and I2. One lead wire 22 from the lamp is connected tothe leak resistor and extends `within the' compartment I I of thecup 9,whereas, the other lead Wire23 of the lampds connected as at .24 to oneend. of a wire 25.. Another wire or connector 26 has one end extendingthrough ,the opening I4 ofthe plate 6 and. terminates withinthecompartment I2 of the receptacle 9. The connector or wire 25 extendsthrough the opening. I3 .of the.plate 6. The opposite ends of thewiresor conductors 25 and-26 are connected to the terminals of theswitch or other. electricaldevice-which is arranged within. thecutoutboxlto which the cover plate is applied, wherebyVthe wires l25 and 26,.lamp..20 and. resistor 2| V:will be arranged in serieswith .theterminals-of the .switch .but in parallel thereto, whereby, when theswitch is opened, the current may be directed to the lamp 20 for causingthe same to glow but when the switch is closed, the current will passtherethrough and the light will be extinguished.

Manifestly, the construction herein shownls capable of considerablemodiiication and such modifications as come within the scope of myclaim, I consider lwith/i/ntlrie'spirltof my inven- I claim:

A combinscutcheon for electrical outlets an amphousing assembly thereformolded from plate having'innerand outer parallel walls and a rectangularshaped opening extending therethrough, said cover plate having recessestherein arranged at theopposite sides of the rectangular shaped openingtherein, a lamp supporting plate seatable directly upon vthe inner wallof said cover plate andextending -completely .over-the rectangularshapedA opening therein,l a pair. of yieldable walls each having-one endformed'with said lamp supporting plate,said .yieldable Walls' extendingthrough the recesses ywithin said cover plate toprevent.-rectilinearlslidingor yturning movement-of -saidlamp supportingplatevwith respect -to .said cover plate, knobs-'formedwith the outer.extremitiesof said yieldable Awalls and spaced from the outer wall ofsaid cover platepa translucent lamp .housing extending completely overthe rectangular shapedopeningwithin said cover p1ate,1side and. end.-walls formedv with said lamp: housing andaaseatable. directlyrfuponfsaidcover, plate, .said .side walls or the lamp. house ing having recesses::therein fora receivingnthe outer.` extremities. of .said ly-ieldable.walls .of the lamp-supporting plateA soas to prevent rectilineal slidingor -turning-movementof said lamp'housing with respect to -said' :coverplate; I -knob `projections formedwith saidlamp housing and havingasnap-on connection with the knobsof vsaid yieldable' walls 4wherebysaid-.lampv supporting plate and the side and end Walls of sgaidalamphousing will be caused to engage saidcover plate and-be retainedthereupon. A

REFERENCESv CITEDL.-

The following 'referencesvare 'of recordin the le of `rthis patent:

UNITEDY STATES' PATENTS Batcheller June 25,l ,1940

,the drawings.the'/plastic.insulating materials comprising a cover

